[21] “Dum essem Romæ puer, et liberalibus studiis erudirer, solebam cum cæteris ejusdem ætatis et propositi, diebus Dominicis sepulchra apostolorum et martyrum circuire, crebròque cryptas ingredi, quæ in terrarum profunda defossæ, ex utraque parte ingredientium per parietes corpora sepultorum, ... ‘Horror ubique animos, simul ipsa silentia terrent.’”—Hieron. in Ezech., Cap. xl.
[22] Unfortunately for Protestant visitors most of the Catacombs are open for inspection only on Sunday, when the work of exploration is suspended.
“And now through narrow, gloomy paths we go,
’Tween walls of earth and tombs.”—Inferno.
[24] “Com’io discerno per lo fioco lume.”—Inferno.
[25] “Full of the dead this far extending field.”
[26] Childe Harold, iv, 104.
[27] Hymnos et psalmos decantans.—Hieron., Vit. Pauli.